Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Tuesday launched legal action against a leading independent news website known for its often harsh criticism of the long-ruling government, the portal said. Malaysiakini.com said Najib's lawyers served it with court papers on Tuesday, claiming he and his ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) were defamed by reader comments published by the portal last month. The comments questioned Najib's leadership, and alleged corruption in UMNO's 57-year-old government. Such criticisms are routine in the site's reader comment section.
Najib, who had first threatened legal action in mid-May, is seeking damages, an injunction against further defamatory content and an apology from the website. "We intend to fight the suit vigorously," said Malaysiakini editor Steven Gan in comments posted on the portal. The ruling coalition - dominated by Najib's Muslim and ethnic Malay party - has wielded press control as a major weapon to help remain in power since independence in 1957.